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Jazz Articles about Samuel Blaser
Samuel Blaser: Purity of Purpose In All Things
by Doug Collette
One of trombonist/composer Samuel Blaser's more subtle talents is his uncanny ability to as fully distinguish himself accompanying other musicians as when he is leading theme. The prominence of a sideman is, by definition, not so great as the bandleader, producer etc, but to completely engage in the project of another is an exercise in generosity and humility as indispensable to the success of a given effort as the more tangible skills of playing an and improvising. On these three ...
Continue ReadingSebastien Ammann's Color Wheel: Resilience
by Jerome Wilson
Pianist Sebastien Ammann is originally from Switzerland but has been part of the New York City jazz scene since 2008, collaborating with musicians such as Kris Davis, Tony Malaby, Ohad Talmor and George Schuller. His current main focus is on his quintet, Color Wheel, whose second album is a kaleidoscope of fresh sounds and interesting musical combinations. Ammann's compositions often have spiky surfaces carved out by saxophonist Michael Attias and trombonist Samuel Blaser which are then made palpable ...
Continue ReadingSebastien Ammann's Color Wheel: Resilience
by Mike Jurkovic
Stark, abstract inquiries are fashioned, some resolved, some left hanging, in the jarring and resolute music of Swiss-pianist Sebastien Ammann's Color Wheel. With an uncanny ability to command the moment, Ammann and his equally inspired mates—Michael Attias on saxophone, bassistNoah Garabedian, trombonist Samuel Blaser and drummerNathan Ellman-Bell—take the moment and throw in a ton of turbulence and false leads and still close the deal. Quite nicely too. For the nine Ammann-imagined tracks on Resilience, Color Wheel's cart-wheeling follow-up to its ...
Continue ReadingWinter 2019
by Doug Collette
Jazz Journal is a regular column consisting of pithy takes on recent jazz releases of note as well as spotlights on those titles in the genre that might otherwise go unnoticed under the cultural radar. Samuel Blaser Early in the Mornin' OutNote Records 2018 Samuel Blaser's engagement with the blues on Early in the Mornin' inspires sparkling arrangements and vigorous musicianship. The frontman's lusty tones on the opening title track set a ...
Continue ReadingFavourite Releases of 2018
by Maurice Hogue
This episode (and the next) features music from some of the great albums released and played on One Man's Jazz in 2018. You'll hear tracks from recordings by Sean Conly, Quin Kirchner, Mario Costa, Benoit Delbecq, Cene Resnik, First Gig Never Happened, Sound & Fury, Samuel Blaser, Albert Beger & Shay Hazan, Michael Formanek, Devin Gray, Sylvie Courvoisier, Marty Ehrlich and Andrew Cyrille. New releases debuting this week come from Nate Wooley, Kresten Osgood and Ricardo Toscano.
Continue ReadingSamuel Blaser: Taktlos Zurich 2017
by John Sharpe
Although in existence since 2013, Taktlos Zurich 2017 constitutes the first record by Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser's Trio with French guitarist Marc Ducret and Danish drummer Peter Bruun. It's worth the wait as Blaser helms a very responsive trio, so attuned to one another's movement that the spaces are as eloquent as the notes. One of the most talented trombonists on the scene, Blaser makes his instrument mutter, growl, speak and sing, sometimes in multiple registers through his control of ...
Continue ReadingSamuel Blaser / Gerry Hemingway: Oostum
by John Sharpe
Swiss trombonist Samuel Blaser has developed a productive partnership with drummer Gerry Hemingway since the American's relocation to Switzerland. Hemingway also forms part of the latest incarnation of Blaser's Quartet as well as his Consort In Motion outfit, heard on A Mirror to Machaut (Songlines, 2013). Such alliances stand the pair in good stead as they embark on the spontaneous duet heard on Oostum, recorded in church in the eponymous village during the 2015 version of the quintessentially Dutch Zomer ...
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